Almanac "Rocznik Wołyński" (Rivne, 1930-1939) as Source for Study of Ethnological Heritage of Ukrainians of Volyn (to 95th Anniversary of its Founding)

Abstract

Periodicals take an important place in the study of the ethnological heritage of Ukrainian culture among the variety of sources. The goal of the research is to analyse the long-term almanac “Rocznik Wołyński” /“Volyn Yearbook” (Rivne, 1930⸺1939), the materials of which were collected and organized by enthusiastic scholars under the leadership of Jakub Hoffman, the editor-in-chief and founder of the journal; to focus on the ethnological heritage, in particular, on the calendar and ritual culture of Ukrainians in Volyn. Methodology. The presented work is based on the principles of scientific knowledge, applying general scientific methods ⸺ historicism, generalisation, and a systematic approach to comprehensive study. At the same time, the empirical and theoretical method is used to present a reliable analysis of the topic in a single semantic whole and the method of archival studies. Scientific novelty. A detailed analysis of the multi-volume yearbook “Rocznik Wołyński” — an important printed publication in Volyn — was conducted, which focused on publications on the study of calendar customs and ritual culture and presented archival materials from the personal fond of J. Hoffman, stored in the State Archives of the Rivne Region, whose records were used in articles on the study of the material and spiritual culture of Volyn in the analyzed yearbook. Conclusions. The journal “Rocznik Wołyński” / “Volyn Yearbook” with the materials of the fond included in the studied almanac, stored in the State Archives of the Rivne Region, is an important source base for both ethnologists, in particular for the study of spiritual culture, namely the calendar rituals of Ukrainians of Volyn, and for historians, local historians, geographers, archaeologists, historiographers, bibliographers, teachers, etc. The initiator and permanent editor of this publication, Jakub Hoffman, aimed to make available materials from various fields of Volhynian studies (history, ethnography, religion, archaeology, historical geography, geology, botany, education, etc.) for use in the teaching and educational process. Cooperation with famous Polish scientists, whose scientific research is presented on the pages of the regional magazine “Rocznik Wołyński”, was also valuable.